David Coulthard met the cyclists in Monaco

Angela Lee, chief executive of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, believes parents are the key to getting a new law introduced.

Her comments came after 16 riders completed a charity ride to France.

Eastenders actor Adam Woodyatt was among a crowd who waved off the cyclists at Brands Hatch on 13 May.

Ms Lee established the trust in Milford Road, Reading in 1992, following the death a 12-year-old boy she had nursed who had been injured while out cycling.

She said: "Children account for 50% of the casualties in hospital. At that stage, their brains have not fully developed.

"I want to raise awareness about the dangers, firstly among parents and secondly among politicians."

Last year 25,000 children under the age of 16 in the UK received hospital treatment for a head injury sustained in a cycling incident.

The trust's 10-day 1,000-mile charity ride, with included four surgeons and Olympic Gold Medallist Richard Dodd, ended in Monaco just in time to for the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.

Formula 1 ace David Coulthard, who has been patron of trust for the past two years, presented the riders with a certificate and medal in recognition of their achievement on Monday.